Tag Archives: melodic death metal

Album Review – Knightsune / Fearless (2024)

Posted on by
Reply

These Spanish rockers attack again with their sophomore album, retaining the elements of melody and power from their previous work while also showcasing an evolution in both composition and production.

Retaining the elements of melody and power present in the band’s previous work while also showcasing an evolution in both composition and production, Fearless, the brand new album by Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain-based Heavy/Power/Speed Metal act Knightsune emerges with a harder, rawer, and more forceful approach, marking a significant progression for the band. Produced and mixed by Miguel A. Riutort at Psychosomatic Studio, with vocals produced by Israel Ramos at Dante Music Studios, mastered by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios, and displaying a classic artwork by Colombian artist Felipe Machado Franco, the new album by vocalist Victor Alcalá “Kendoru”, guitarists Victor V. Gairhald and Diego Alastruey “Alas”, bassist Carlos Vicente, and drummer Rubén Castrillo integrates elements of Groove, Progressive and Melodic Death Metal into their core sound rooted in Heavy, Power and Thrash Metal, turning it into a must-listen for fans of modern-day heavy music.

The riffs by Victor and Alas will take you to a world of pure Heavy Metal in the title-track Fearless, accompanied by the hammering drums by Rubén, while Kendoru’s vocals soar high just the way we like it in this type of music. A Sky Full Of Ghosts is another classic Power Metal tune made in Europe, with Rubén once again dictating the pace with his fierce and intricate beats, whereas a calm and serene start suddenly explodes into another powerful sonority in Twilight Of The Heroes, offering our ears fast-paced, no-shenanigans metal music led by the classic vocals by Kendoru. Rubén keeps hammering his drums in Under One Sound, an electrifying creation by the band showcasing endless stamina and the always classy riffs and solos by Victor and Alas; followed by The Pain I Leave, featuring guest Memphis Jiménez, starting in a serene manner to the melancholic vocals by Kendoru who makes an amazing vocal duet with Memphis in a charming ballad by the band.

Then featuring guest vocalist  Elisa C. Martín (Hamka, Dark Moor), Forever is a more straightforward Power Metal tune by those Spanish rockers, with the guitars by Victor and Alas being nicely supported by the rumbling kitchen by Carlos and Rubén, followed by Pistols At Dawn, a galloping composition that doesn’t add much to the album, although it still brings forward the band’s solid instrumental pieces and vocal lines. Back to a more vibrant, breathtaking sound it’s time for Purple & Green, where the riffage by the band’s guitar duo matches perfectly with the unstoppable beats by Rubén; and almost nine minutes of epic passages, thunderous bass lines, crushing drums and striking vocals are offered to us all in The Island, with Victor and Alas speeding things up with their ass-kicking riffs, blending all their influences the likes of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Stratovarius and so on. Last but not least, the band brings forward an avalanche of classic Power Metal with tons of Melodic Metal nuances in Not Over, featuring guest vocals by Herbie Langhans (Steel Rhino, The Lightbringer of Sweden), putting a beyond electrifying ending to the album.

Kightsune are on absolute fire in Fearless, and you can join them in their quest for heavy music by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, by subscribing to their YouTube channel, by streaming their music on Spotify, and of course by purchasing their new album from their BandCamp page or from Art Gates Records as a CD + shirt + signed postcard bundle, a CD + girlie shirt + signed postcard bundle, or as a CD + hoodie + mug + signed postcard bundle. Those Spanish rockers are not afraid of experimenting with different rock and metal elements in their new album, and let’s hope they keep on doing that in their upcoming releases as the final result in Fearless is definitely exciting.

Best moments of the album: Fearless, Under One Sound and Not Over.

Worst moments of the album: Pistols At Dawn.

Released in 2024 Art Gates Records

Track listing
1. Fearless 7:01
2. A Sky Full Of Ghosts 4:52
3. Twilight Of The Heroes 7:40
4. Under One Sound 4:48
5. The Pain I Leave 5:17
6. Forever 5:05
7. Pistols At Dawn 6:26
8. Purple & Green 5:29
9. The Island 8:53
10. Not Over 4:03

Band members
Victor Alcalá “Kendoru” – vocals
Victor V. Gairhald – guitar
Diego Alastruey “Alas” – guitar
Carlos Vicente – bass
Rubén Castrillo – drums

Guest musicians
Memphis Jiménez – vocals on “The Pain I Leave”
Elisa C. Martín – vocals on “Forever”
Herbie Langhans – vocals on “Not Over”

Album Review – Wolfheart / Draconian Darkness (2024)

Posted on by
Reply

Finnish frontrunners of icy Melodic Death Metal return with the musical embodiment of frigid, dark winter nights that, while terrifying and foreboding, reveal the majestic power and beauty of the natural world.

Finnish frontrunners of icy Melodic Death Metal, the unstoppable Lahti, Päijät-Häme-based Wolfheart, are preparing to unleash their latest album, Draconian Darkness, taking every aspect of the band’s trademark sound of colossal melodies, growling vocals, and driving drum rhythms to searing new levels. Recorded, produced, mixed and mastered by Saku Moilanen at Deep Noise Studios, the follow-up to their 2022 album King of the North is the musical embodiment of frigid, dark winter nights that, while terrifying and foreboding, reveal the majestic power and beauty of the natural world, all carefully brought into being by Tuomas Saukkonen on vocals and guitars, Vageliss Karzis on lead guitars and clean vocals, Lauri Silvonen on bass and backing vocals, and Joonas Kauppinen on drums.

An imposing, epic start gradually evolves into the metallic feast Ancient Cold, with all background orchestrations adding an extra touch of epicness to the heavy and technical sounds blasted by Tuomas & Co., whereas Joonas pounds his drums in the name of Melodic Death Metal in Evenfall, with their riffs matching perfectly with the deep roars by Tuomas, or in other words, it’s a beautiful song from the North. It’s then pedal to the metal in the just as heavy and multi-layered Burning Sky, where the riffage by Tuomas and Vageliss will pierce your mind like an arrow on fire; while slowing things down but sounding just as melodic we have Death Leads the Way, presenting nice headbanging riffs complemented by the classic drums by Joonas. And in Scion of the Flame the band brings elements from Symphonic Metal to their core Melodic Death Metal, resulting in a very detailed and epic song tailored for fans of Finnish melodeath.

Back to their more vicious sonority, it’s time for the violent Grave, a metal assault showcasing harsh lyrics (“Cross breed of pure violence and virtuous flesh / Driven by the principle of wrath / Overfeed the senses / Let the cancer cells devour / Cranial nerves under profusion of information”) and endless electricity, and their razor-edged guitars will keep cutting our skin deep in Throne of Bones, while Lauri and Joonas fill out every space left in the air with their rumbling bass and drums. It’s not as exciting as the other songs, though, but still really enjoyable. Then in Trial by Fire the quartet once again delivers a high-octane, groovy and incendiary Melodic Death Metal feast where Tuomas deeply roars supported by his bandmates until the very last second. Lastly, we face The Gale, starting in a serene and soothing manner in paradox with the rest of the album, and alternating between more violent moments and pure acoustic sounds, putting a charming yet strong ending to the album.

The guys from Wolfheart are waiting to show you all the glory of the North, and you can join them by following the band on Facebook and on Instagram, by subscribing to their official YouTube channel, by streaming their music on Spotify, and of course by purchasing a copy of the excellent Draconian Darkness by clicking HERE. Melodic Death Metal will always be one of the best genres to translate the harsh yet alluring cold of the winter into music, and the unstoppable Wolfheart are offering exactly that in their powerful and enfolding new album.

Best moments of the album: Evenfall, Burning Sky and Grave.

Worst moments of the album: Throne of Bones.

Released in 2024 Reigning Phoenix Music

Track listing
1. Ancient Cold 5:37
2. Evenfall 4:03
3. Burning Sky 4:15
4. Death Leads the Way 3:22
5. Scion of the Flame 4:01
6. Grave 4:22
7. Throne of Bones 5:28
8. Trial by Fire 3:53
9. The Gale 4:28

Band members
Tuomas Saukkonen – vocals, guitars
Vageliss Karzis – lead guitars, clean vocals
Lauri Silvonen – bass, backing vocals
Joonas Kauppinen – drums

Concert Review – Hyperia (Rivoli, Toronto, ON, 07/07/2024)

Posted on by
Reply

A fantastic heat wave of Canadian underground metal hit the city of Toronto this Sunday night with three of the most must-see bands of the current scene.

OPENING ACTS: Invicta and Thunderor

The heat is on in Toronto, and together with it comes an overdose of the Canadian underground like what happened last night at Rivoli when TUNDEROR, INVICTA and HYPERIA kicked off Hyperia’s sensational Constricting Canada/Europe Tour 2024, and I believe it’s the first time ever this thrilling band from Vancouver, British Columbia is touring not only Eastern Canada, but also venturing through European lands. Needless to say, Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I were there to celebrate the music and professional growth of Hyperia, proving Canadian metal is alive and kicking, with band’s like Hyperia, Invicta and Thunderor being more than ready to take over the world.

I must confess it was a little late for the doors at Rivoli to open, only at 8:30pm on a Sunday, but nobody seemed to care about that late start, and a little after 9pm Kitchener, Ontario-based Melodic Death/Thrash Metal outfit INVICTA kicked off the metallic ceremony with a fast-paced, heavy-as-hell performance, inviting all concert goers for some vigorous headbanging. The band spearheaded by the talented vocalist and guitarist Kyle Edissi, who also plays the guitar for Heathen on their live shows, delivered the goods, playing songs from their two album Halls of Extinction and Triumph and Torment (both available on BandCamp and on Spotify, by the way) for the delight of the small but excited crowd that attended the show. Those guys should definitely be opening for renowned acts like At The Gates, Sylosis, Arch Enemy and so on during their future tours in Canada, and I’m sure once more people get exposed to Invicta’s first-class heavy music, they will go places.

Band members
Kyle Edissi – vocals, guitars
Jonah Kay – guitars, backing vocals
Steven Rowlands – bass, backing vocals
Reef Hassanien – drums, percussion

The show must go on, and after a short break where everyone could enjoy good quality beer for a very decent price (which doesn’t happen very often at concerts, as you might know), Toronto’s own Heavy Metal trio THUNDEROR began their melodic and incendiary concert based on their 2022 debut Fire It Up, available on BandCamp and on Spotify, including Fire It Up, Dangerous Times, Thunderor and On the Run, putting everyone to dance and have a very good time in the name of Rock N’ Roll. Guitarist Johnny Nesta and bassist Brycen Gunn were obviously amazing, but it was the band’s mastermind JJ Tartaglia (of bands like Skull Fist and Final Trigger) who truly impressed me the most. How can he sing and play drums at the same time, and sound so good in both? He has indeed become a staple of the Canadian underground scene, and if you have a chance to see him playing live, please go for it, because he’s a great person and a superb musician that deserves all our recognition.

Band members
JJ Tartaglia – vocals, drums, keyboards
Johnny Nesta – guitars
Brycen Gunn – bass

HYPERIA

I’ve been a fan of Melodic Thrash/Death Metal machine HYPERIA since day one, having already reviewed all of their albums, those being Insanitorium (2020), Silhouettes of Horror (2022) and The Serpent’s Cycle (2023), but I honestly had no idea if I would ever be able to see them live as touring from one coast of Canada to the other is extremely pricey these days. Well, to my total surprise and sheer happiness, yesterday I had a fantastic time witnessing frontwoman Marlee Ryley, guitarists Colin Ryley and Skyler Mills, bassist Jon Power, and drummer Aaron Bell kicking some serious ass on stage in preparation for their more-than-deserved debut European tour starting on July 14 at Masters of rock in the Czech Republic. It was wild, intense, and above all that, as metal as it could be, putting a huge smile on everyone who was brave enough to stay at the venue until (very) late on a Sunday night, completely ignoring the fact the next day would be an always boring Monday.

Most of their setlist was based on their newest album The Serpent’s Cycle, with songs like The Serpent’s Cycle, Trapped in Time and my favorite of the night, Automatic Thrash Machine, sounding killer live, and the band was so relaxed and having a good time that Marlee herself went down to the floor/pit to have a good time with the fans more than once, with Jon also joining the crowd during the last song of their set, the excellent Pleonexia, and that translated into a very warm and vibrant reaction form the crowd. All of their wicked creations are available on BandCamp and on Spotify, and if you’re in Europe and have a chance to catch Hyperia live in the coming weeks, don’t miss the chance to see one of the coolest names of the current Canadian scene. I would love to see them on July 21 at the famous Carts & Horses, the birthplace of Iron Maiden, because they definitely deserve to reach new heights with their undisputed thrash, and hopefully when they return from Europe I’ll have another chance to see them here in Toronto in a not-so-distant future.

Band members
Marlee Ryley – vocals
Colin Ryley – guitars
Skyler Mills – guitars
Jon Power – bass
Aaron Bell – drums

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Metal Chick of the Month – Maude Théberge

Posted on by
1

Come dance la valse des condamnés!

As the heat is definitely on in the Northern Hemisphere, there’s nothing like icy cold blood to cool us all down, and that’s exactly what our amazing metal lady of this month of July has to offer with her undeniable talent, charisma and passion for heavy music. Not only that, July 1 is Canada Day, which means having a metal lady hailing from Canada makes things even better here on The Headbanging Moose. Owner of a powerful yet delicate voice, she’s the vocalist and keyboardist for a Montreal, Quebec-based Melodic/Symphonic Death/Gothic Metal band known as Sanguine Glacialis, as well as a growler for Growlers Choir (the world-famous choir of metal vocalists) and a voice actress and administrative assistant for La Fabrique de Monstres (or The Monster Factory). She can play the violin too, and she’s also a teacher and a model. Her name is Maude Théberge, and I’m sure that after knowing more about her life and career, you’ll get addicted to her voice, to her music, and be more than ready to dance “la valse des condamnés.”

Born and raised in the stunning Canadian city of Montreal, Maude has been a singer for more than 15 years, having already acquired two music degrees in classical piano interpretation and music teaching. Apart for being a sensational growler, she’s a soprano singer who can sing a wide variety of styles such as classical, jazz and pop, she can write and sing in French and English, and she’s also a composer and arranger who has her own studio at home, allowing her to write, compose, record ad edit her own parts, including midi instruments and orchestrations for any project with a specialty in string sections, as she’s also a pianist, keyboardist and violinist as already mentioned.

Our metal diva started started playing the piano at the age of 12 and the violin at the age of 13, continuing her studies at Cégep de St-Laurent, where she also had the opportunity to play jazz piano, classical violin and sing in a classical choir, obtaining her DEC in classical piano interpretation in 2012. Maude continued her studies at UQAM in music education (classical piano), where she still played classical violin, jazz choir, wind instruments and percussions, obtaining her Baccalaureate and her teaching certificate in 2016. Subsequently, she did a DESS in Management at UQAM and obtained her diploma in 2019. Finally, she took an acting and dubbing course in 2020 with French-Canadian director, dubbing director and acting coach Sergine Dumais.

It was in 2011 when Maude joined Sanguine Glacialis, in which she played the keyboards and did some backing vocals, taking over the reins of the band in 2016, being the only remaining member, rebuilding the project with new musicians, and becoming the lead singer of the band. Sanguine Glacialis have become her biggest project in life for over a decade already, allowing her to develop many skills such as classical and pop singing and growling as well as studio recording at home, in addition to developing managerial skills including production of albums, music videos and over 100 shows across Canada. Having already shared the state with renowned acts the likes of Dark Tranquility, Omnium Gatherum, Delain, Necronomicon, Unexpect and Anonymus, just to name a few, the band experiments with multiple musical styles, such as Jazz, Classical, folkloric music, Latin music, and so on, while keeping a very strong Melodic Death Metal accent.

Since their inception, the band has already released three full-length albums, those being Dancing with a Hanged Man, in 2012, Hadopelagic, in 2018, and Maladaptive Daydreaming, in 2023, plus the EP Pitch Black Sight, in 2016, and from those she did keyboards and backing vocals only in their debut album and their EP, becoming their frontwoman while still playing keyboards as aforementioned starting with their 2018 album. currently formed of Maude alongside Alexandre Lépine on the guitars, Marc Gervais on bass, and Jérémy Racine on drums, the band is in great shape and form, as you can see in this footage live in Quebec in 2023, and you can also enjoy all of their creations on BandCamp, on Spotify and on YouTube, including their ass-kicking official videos for the songs Kraken, Welcome, and Monsters,  and you can also click HERE for all things Sanguine Glacialis.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Apart from her amazing years with Sanguine Glacialis, Maude has also been the vocalist for a Melodic Death Metal band from Toronto named Terminalcurse together with multi-instrumentalist Kirill Zorin (ex-Nachtmuse), having released with the project their self-titled debut EP in 2022. The EP is available on BandCamp and on Spotify, and you can also find all links and information about the duo by clicking HERE. Also, between 2017 and 2024, she was also the violinist for Montreal’s own Melodic Black/Folk Metal horde Valfreya, having recorded with them the excellent album Dawn of Reckoning, released earlier this year.

Maude can also be seen as a guest musician in distinct bands and projects; for instance, she did choir vocals for the song Dissociation, from the 2023 EP Survival Mode, by Canadian Avant-garde Death metal band Disorientation; also did vocals for the song Mordrake I – Birth, from the 2014 album Mordrake, by Canadian Symphonic/Melodic Black/Death Metal band Hollow; and recorded two albums with Canadian Symphonic Metal project Nachtmuse as their lead vocalist, backing vocalist or doing choir vocals, those being the 2022 release Solemn Songs of Nightsky & Sea, and the 2023 EP Darker Skies. Not only that, in 2018 she also released her debut album as a solo artist, titled The Simplest Expression, which is by the way an acoustic album. Furthermore, everything about Maude can be found HERE, by the way.

In March 2020, just before the COVID pandemic, Maude appeared on the show Tout le monde en parle, the biggest talk show in Quebec, to talk about the band and Le FestEvil – Quebec City Women Metal fest part 1, which was not only an important event for metal music in Quebec in 2020, but one that also provided women in metal with tons of support, with its first edition featuring the bands Your Last Wish, Valfreya, Sanguine Glacialis, Merkabah, Uriel, Within Embers and Fall Of Stasis, all amazing bands from the Quebec scene with very talented women like Maude in their lineups. Unfortunately, I don’t think the festival exists anymore, mainly due to the pandemic crushing any plans of live events anywhere in the world, but it would be amazing if we could see more festivals like that in Canada for sure, of course spearheaded by Maude and her Sanguine Glacialis.

Last but not least, Maude is also a pet lover, nurturing a deep passion for cats. In one of her interviews, she said that she had four cats, Jack (for Jack Black), Amélie (for Amélie Poulin), Vévé (because she has a V shape pattern on her forehead) and Gizmo (like the Gremlin), but unfortunately Vévé and Amélie have passed away since that, also talking a little about how she manages to take care of all of them while also continuing with her career in music, as for example saying her boyfriend or parents take care of them when she’s on tour. Also, when asked how they behave when she’s practicing at home, her answer was quite funny and curious. “All the cats, but especially the male cats, HATE my violin. They complain the whole time I’m trying to practice. I can growl all I want and they don’t care, but the violin.” Well, maybe they’re more into extreme music, right? So I believe as long as she keeps playing the awesome music by Sanguine Glacialis to them, she’ll surely keep four cats extremely happy, and of course countless happy metalheads worldwide.

Maude Théberge’s Official Facebook page
Maude Théberge’s Official Instagram
Maude Théberge’s Official YouTube channel
Sanguine Glacialis’ Official Facebook page
Sanguine Glacialis’ Official Instagram
Sanguine Glacialis’ Official YouTube channel
Sanguine Glacialis’ Official X

Album Review – Atavistia / Inane Ducam EP (2024)

Posted on by
1

One of the most interesting names of the Vancouver, Canada scene is back with an amazing new EP, an album of the band’s most extreme influences and their darkest release yet.

Exploring various forms of metal within their music, resulting in a symphonic mix of nature, atmosphere, and technically precise musicianship, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada-based Melodic/Symphonic Death Metal act Atavistia is ready to unleash a brand new EP titled Inane Ducam, which translates as “I will lead into nothingness”, and sometimes you’ll even find the album labeled as Inane Ducam (I Will Lead Into Nothingness), an album of the band’s most extreme influences and their darkest release yet. Produced and engineered by Mattias Sippola and Max Sepulveda, recorded at Atavistic Studios, mixed by Mattias Sippola, and mastered at Fascination Street Studios, the album includes some of the most complex guitar riffs, fastest drums, and bellowing screams by vocalist and guitarist Mattias Sippola, newcomers Elia Baghbaniyan on the guitars and Spencer Budworth on bass, and drummer Max Sepulveda, perfectly depicting the diversity of Atavistia much like a forest in the full bloom of spring.

The title-track Inane Ducam is an atmospheric, cryptic intro that kicks things off by setting the stage for the band to darken the skies in Timeless Despair, an explosive Melodic Death Metal aria bursting with epicness thanks to all symphonic elements in the background, while Max hammers his drums in the name of extreme music, perfectly supporting Mattias’ devilish vocals. Then we have Dark Isolation, sounding even more imposing and bold, a multi-layered composition showcasing the caustic riffs by Mattias and Elia while Spencer keeps the ambience as heavy and it can be with his bass lines. Unattained Creation is another wicked creation by the band where the austere, harsh roars by Mattias match perfectly with the rumbling bass and drums by Spencer and Max, respectively, flowing into the closing song of the EP, titled The Void, which is also the most detailed grim and infernal of all tracks, with Mattias leading his horde with his hellish growls while Max keeps blasting his drums like a demented beast, resulting in over seven minutes of first-class metal music that put a beyond climatic ending to the album.

If you want to know more about Atavistia, their music, tour dates and so on, you can start following and supporting one of the most interesting names of the current Canadian metal scene on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their creations on YouTube and on Spotify, and of course purchase a copy of the excellent Inane Ducam from their own BandCamp page or by clicking HERE. Atavistia keep exploring new lands in Inane Ducam while always remaining loyal to their origins, and that translates into some amazing heavy music that I’m sure you’ll enjoy a lot as soon as you take your very first listen to their new release, undoubtedly one of the best EP’s of 2024 so far.

Best moments of the album: Dark Isolation and The Void.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Independent

Track listing
1. Inane Ducam 1:41
2. Timeless Despair 3:55
3. Dark Isolation 5:23
4. Unattained Creation 5:17
5. The Void 7:06

Band members
Mattias Sippola – vocals, guitars
Elia Baghbaniyan – guitars
Spencer Budworth – bass, backing vocals
Max Sepulveda – drums

Metal Chick of the Month – Miss ScarRed

Posted on by
1

Hear me, I’m here inside… Take a breath… Bring me to life!

It’s time to make things red, and I mean REALLY RED, here on The Headbanging Moose thanks to our metal lady of this always hot and sunny month of June, but before I say anything about her I have a very easy question for you. Do you know what The Headbanging Moose and Nuking Moose have in common, apart from two badass names and an endless passion for heavy music? The answer is quite obvious, it’s our total admiration for the breathtaking frontwoman Miss ScarRed, also known as Liz, a multi-talented singer, songwriter and vocal coach known for fronting the aforementioned Nuking Moose, as well as another project named Chaos Rising and her own solo band, and a woman who will set fire to whatever stage she steps on with her undeniable talent. In other words, I’m sure you’ll love to see everything “red” after our humble tribute to her.

Hailing from Hamburg, a major port city in northern Germany, Miss ScarRed is a rising force in the Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore and Deathcore scenes, delivering soaring vocals that walk hand in hand with the heaviness, melody and rage flowing from the music played by her bandmates. Her first official release in the metal world was back in September 2021, when Chaos Rising, a collaborative international Groove/Thrash/Heavy/Melodic Death Metal project formed in 2019 open to every female artist interested in metal music, released the single Prisoner, featuring our beloved diva on vocals (and songwriting) alongside French multi-instrumentalist Stéphanie Nolf (of Syrinx and Unsafe, who’s also by the way the founder and manager of Chaos Rising) on bass and drum programming, British multi-instrumentalist Catherine Fearns on the guitars, and Serbian guitarist Aleksandra Stamenković (aka Alexandra Lioness, of Jenner and Sigma Epsilon) also on the guitars. All releases by Chaos Rising, featuring an array of talented women, can be found on BandCamp and on Spotify under an album titled The Singles, including of course the song with Miss ScarRed on vocals, and I’m sure we’ll soon see another striking song fronted by her under such an amazing and important project for all women who love heavy music.

Apart from her involvement with Chaos Rising, Miss ScarRed was also the vocalist for a Lübeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany-based Symphonic Metal band named Aeternitas between 2021 and 2022, until they disbanded in 2022 after decades of existence, as the band was originally formed back in 1999. Miss ScarRed ended up being their very last female vocalist, having released with them the single Shadows back in November 2021, the band’s last song before calling it quits. I wish we could have more of Aeternitas with her on vocals because the final result in Shadows is really compelling, but of course I understand there are things that happen inside countless bands out there that are out of anyone’s control.

Finally, let’s talk a little about Miss ScarRed’s main band, the ruthless Nuking Moose. Formed in 2013 in Bremen, a city straddling the Weser River in northwest Germany, Nuking Moose play a thrilling fusion of Melodic Death and Groove Metal highly recommended for fans of bands like Jinjer and The Agonist, having released the EP Into the Abyss back in 2018, and the full-length album Ritual, in 2023, this one already featuring Miss ScarRed on vocals. After the pandemic hit, their previous vocalist Lars Michalsky (who had been with the band since 2017) left Nuking Moose in 2022, vacating the position for our red-haired growler to join guitarists Lennart Godt and Lennart Jabben, bassist Kevin “Moshi” Schmidt, and drummer Arne Godt in their quest for heavy music.

“Our old singer moved away for professional reasons and we were forced to look for a replacement. We were lucky that Liz was looking for a new band herself at the same time we were looking for a singer. The internet brought us together and Liz won us over straight away. It was always important to us to have someone on the microphone who could shout/grow but also sing cleanly and melodically. We found Liz to be the right person,” commented the band about their new vocalist, complementing by saying that “the fact that she drove from her home near Hamburg to Bremen for rehearsals every week left no doubt that she was serious about the band. Luckily, she now lives closer to Bremen. In addition to her musical ability, Liz also brought a lot of experience from the professional music business with her. That was a great stroke of luck for us, because the rest of us only got into music as a hobby.”

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

After being joined by Miss ScarRed (or in the case of Nuking Moose, they prefer calling her just as Liz), the band was able to reach the desired shape and form of their sound, sounding modern without sounding too polished at the same time, as well as hard and rough but with the melodic touch of Liz on vocals. As already mentioned, Nuking Moose released last year the album Ritual, featuring Liz on vocals, and let me tell you that it’s one hell of an album with no fillers, only killers. In case you’re curious to listen to it, you can find the album in full on different streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music, and also watch on YouTube the official video for the title-track Ritual, the lyric video for the song Values, and a “making of” for the entire album.

One name that might eventually pop up whenever you search for information about Nuking Moose is the one of Martin Kesici, and that’s because he’s nothing more, nothing less than Liz’s partner, apart of course for being a rock musician and radio host who became known in 2003 as one of the winners of the casting show Star Search. He’s become a friend of the guys from Nuking Moose, being involved in their day-to-day activities as for example being responsible for the mixing of the live recordings of one of their concerts. And speaking about live recordings, you can enjoy Liz and the boys kicking some ass with the songs Message To The Dead and Rusty Giant, both rehearsal room recordings. “The rehearsal room recordings were not part of a larger release, but we simply wanted to show people out there as quickly as possible after the singer change what we sound like now with Liz. These recordings were not intended to be studio quality – for the sake of simplicity, the drums were programmed on the computer, for example, and the distorted sound of the guitars came from a digital amplifier and not from the tube amps that we actually play,” commented the band.

There’s a lot more information, tour dates, news and other nice-to-know details about Miss ScarRed and Nuking Moose on their official social media channels, including her Facebook, Instagram and Linktree, and the band’s official website, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube channel, leaving you updated with all things surrounding one of the most promising bands of the contemporary German scene, with of course Miss ScarRed proving why she was chosen by the band to be their new frontwoman and scream for them like there’s no tomorrow. Having said all that, what are you waiting for to dive into a sea of red together with such an amazing vocalist like her?

Miss ScarRed’s Official Facebook page
Miss ScarRed’s Official Instagram
Nuking Moose’s Official Facebook page
Nuking Moose’s Official Instagram
Nuking Moose’s Official YouTube channel

Concert Review – Decapitated & Septicflesh (The Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto, ON, 05/03/2024)

Posted on by
2

The city of Toronto witnessed this Friday one of the heaviest nights of the year so far, courtesy of four bands that definitely know how to unite violence and melody in their amazing music.

OPENING ACTS: Allegaeon and Kataklysm

Once again due to an insane combination of heavy traffic, heavy rain, no parking near The Phoenix Concert Theatre, and a huge and slow line to get inside the venue, I was “forced” to miss the first band of a night of sheer brutality and awesomeness, courtesy of ALLEGAEON, KATAKLYSM, SEPTICFLESH and DECAPITATED during their incendiary Cancer Culture Over North America 2024, another must-see event brought to a jam packed venue by the one and only Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment. I’m starting to hate when concerts are booked at The Phoenix Concert Theatre, which might be a great venue once you’re inside, but parking near there and getting inside it for the shows is a true nightmare. Well, it is what it is, and I’ll try to leave earlier to be there on time for the next show (although I left my place almost THREE HOURS before the first band began their performance).

Fortunately, my buddy Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi was there to check out the amazing Denver, Colorado-based Technical/Melodic Death Metal outfit ALLEGAEON, who at 7:30pm sharp kicked off the night festivities. Having released the album Damnum back in 2022, plus an amazing new single named Iridescent this year, the band put on a fantastic show according to Keith. He said he would give them not just a 10 our of 10 for their musicianship, but a 12 out of 10. They loved that he dressed up in his Carcass apron and a server hat as their lead singer did in the video for Iridescent. He then met with them all at the merch table and chatted for a bit. Their guitarist Greg Burgess told him when he saw him in the photo pit he was dying with laughter on stage. Keith ended up giving the lead singer his server hat to wear for the next show, and got his apron all autographed. If you’re curious to listen to their amazing music, simply go to BandCamp or Spotify, and click HERE for all things Allegaeon. Next time I won’t miss them, even if I have to skip breakfast to do so.

Setlist
Threshold of Perception
1.618
Iridescent
Of Beasts and Worms
Gray Matter Mechanics – Apassionata Ex Machinea
Biomech – Vals No. 666

Band members
Ezra Haynes – vocals
Greg Burgess – guitars
Michael Stancel – guitars
Brandon Michael – bass
Jeff Saltzman – drums

At least I was able to get inside in time for Montréal, Quebec’s own Melodic Death/Groove Metal powerhouse KATAKLYSM, who kicked some serious ass on stage led by their talented frontman Maurizio Iacono. Blending old songs with new ones from their 2023 album Goliath (available on several streaming services like Spotify), the band demanded the crowd to keep moving inside the circle pit nonstop, turning up the heat at The Phoenix Concert Theatre to the point I wish it was still winter so that some cold air would enter the venue to freshen things up. Songs like Guillotine, The Killshot and The Black Sheep kept the circle pit moving in a wild and frantic manner until the very last second of their show, proving why they’re one of the driving forces of the extreme scene in Canada. If you’ve never seem Kataklysm live, just go for it. But please remember to be in good shape, do a lot of cardio beforehand, and even put on an armour, because their mosh pits are simply brutal.

Setlist
Goliath
Push the Venom
Guillotine
Narcissist
The Killshot
Die as a King
As I Slither
Crippled & Broken
Bringer of Vengeance
The Black Sheep

Band members
Maurizio Iacono – lead vocals
Jean-François Dagenais – guitars
Stéphane Barbe – bass
James Payne – drums

SEPTICFLESH

If you think after Kataklysm things were going to get any lighter, you’re absolutely wrong; quite the contrary, when Greek Atmospheric/Symphonic Death Metal beast SEPTICFLESH hit the stage (without one of their guitarists, Sotiris Vayenas, for an unknown reason), a visceral, Stygian ode to darkness took over the entire city of Toronto, driving their fans crazy during their entire co-headlining performance. All songs played, including newer songs the likes of Neuromancer and Hierophant, from their latest opus Modern Primitive, released in 2022, plus of course classics such as Portrait of a Headless Man and Anubis, were played to perfection by the band, with Spiros Antoniou sounding inhumane on vocals while Kerim “Krimh” Lechner sounded simply bestial behind his drums. Seriously, he’s fantastic, adding endless heaviness to the band’s already demonic music. Just like Rotting Christ, Septicflesh proudly carry the flag of Greek extreme music everywhere they go, and if you’ve never seen them live, don’t miss the chance whenever they visit your city because they do offer a truly unique sonic experience.

Setlist
Portrait of a Headless Man
Pyramid God
Neuromancer
The Vampire from Nazareth
Hierophant
Martyr
Communion
A Desert Throne
Anubis
Dark Art

Band members
Spiros Antoniou – harsh vocals, bass
Christos Antoniou – guitars, orchestrations, samples
Psychon – guitars
Kerim “Krimh” Lechner – drums

DECAPITATED

It was already past 10:30pm (yes, it was a long night of first-class heavy music) when the co-headliners that were closing the night DECAPITATED destroyed The Phoenix Concert theatre with their fusion of Technical Death Metal and Groove Metal. Those Polish metallers didn’t show a single drop of mercy for our souls during their demonic set, with their new songs from their 2022 album Cancer Culture like the title-track Cancer Culture, Just a Cigarette and Last Supper blending perfectly with old school tunes including Spheres of Madness and Iconoclast. Frontman Rafał Rasta Piotrowski sounded demented on vocals, keeping the circle pits moving wildly until the very end. Damn, I think there were mosh pits happening even inside the washrooms, and even at the Domino’s Pizza located a couple of blocks from the venue. What a night of insanity and heavy music combined to bring us avid fans some top-of-the-line entertainment during such difficult times in Toronto, and I can’t wait to witness Decapitated crushing our cranial skulls again in the city in the near future.

Setlist
From the Nothingness With Love
Cancer Culture
Just a Cigarette
Babylon’s Pride
Post(?) Organic
Lying and Weak
Spheres of Madness
Earth Scar
Never
Iconoclast
Last Supper
Planet Caravan (Black Sabbath song)

Band members
Rafał Rasta Piotrowski – vocals
Wacław Vogg Kiełtyka – guitars
Paweł Pavlo Pasek – bass
James Stewart – drums

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Album Review – Unleash The Archers / Phantoma (2024)

Posted on by
Reply

Canada’s most innovative Power Metal institution returns with a bold and thrilling concept album, recounting the trials of AI gaining sentience on a dystopian, near-future planet earth.

Vancouver/Victoria, British Columbia, Canada-based Melodic Death/Power Metal powerhouse Unleash The Archers does not shirk from the tough stuff. Their unique blend of heavy music, pop, and prog comes together with brutal force on their brand new album, entitled Phantoma, the striking follow-up to their 2020 opus Abyss. Produced and recorded by Andrew Saunders and JJ Heath at Silverside Sound, mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios, and displaying a futuristic, dystopian artwork by Dusty Peterson, the new beast by vocalist Brittney Slayes, guitarists Grant Truesdell and Andrew Kingsley, bassist Nick Miller, and drummer Scott Buchanan concerns itself with the influx of AI and what the future looks like with it involved in our art and society. Led by the album’s protagonist Phantoma, a Phase 4 / Network Tier 0 unit – model A, the story recounts the trials of AI gaining sentience on a dystopian, near-future planet earth, while musically speaking the album represents a huge leap forward in the band’s towering trajectory.

Just hit play and sounds of nature will instantly blend with the guitars by Grant and Andrew in the opener Human Era, before Britney comes ripping with her deep, powerful vocals in a gentle but impactful Power Metal tune, flowing into the title-track Ph4/NT0mA, where the band puts the pedal to the metal and delivers sheer adrenaline led by the classic beats by Scott, resulting in an amazing song that will drive fans crazy whenever played live. Let’s keep galloping together with the band to the future in Buried in Code, another fast-paced composition where Britney’s striking vocals walk hand in hand with the riffage by the band’s guitar duo, supported by the rumbling bass by Nick, followed by The Collective, starting in an ethereal manner before exploding into more of their ass-kicking Melodic Power Metal, and it will surely inspire some mosh pits during their live performances. And we then face Green & Glass, with its darkly poetic lyrics declaimed by Britney (“All around me, I see / Formations of green and glass shining in the sun / Never before have I seen such a beautiful display of how it was once / Before the earth was changed, they ruined every / Mesmerized, in a dream / Roaming so aimlessly, blinded by it all / Wonders abound in a way reminiscent of a time they can no longer recall”) being boosted by a delicate yet piercing sonority.

Then investing in an 80’s Synth Pop-inspired sound, Unleash The Archers will penetrate deep inside your soul in Gods in Decay, with Nick’s bass sounding massive while the band’s guitar duo embellishes the airwaves with their trademark riffs and solos. After an overdose of lightning Power Metal, the band brings forward the power ballad Give It Up or Give It All, which sounds even more 80’s than the previous song, albeit a bit generic in the end. Ghosts in the Mist, the first single of the album, offers more of their stylish words (“From out of shadows, and without warning / They’ve come to join the war, who’re they fighting for / Like phantoms in the dark, they’re hunting / They silently command who is the unseen hand”) with the keyboards adding a futuristic vibe to the song’s very melodic rhythm; whereas Seeking Vengeance is one more lecture in pure Heavy Metal where the incendiary riffs by Grant and Andrew sound fantastic, not to mention the song’s atmosphere is also very pleasant, melodic and thrilling. Lastly, we’re treated to the epic, cinematic finale Blood Empress, a darker, more melodic tune by the band that concludes the Phantoma storyline on a vibrant note, with Scott kicking some as usual on drums.

Britney and the boys are waiting for you to join them in the dystopian future of Phantoma on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Spotify, and you should definitely purchase a copy of the best Power Metal album of the year so far by clicking HERE or HERE, letting their music flow through your brain like perfect coding. The band is now embarking on a wild, thrilling tour to all four corners of the earth, and if I were you I wouldn’t miss the chance to see them kicking some ass live with their old classic and brand new tunes, as Unleash The Archers are definitely one of the driving forces of the current Canadian metal scene. They’re heading to the future singing about the future while remaining loyal to their roots, and that’s what makes Phantoma so compelling, a timeless album about the past, present and future of mankind that will certainly take the name of the band to even further lands.

Best moments of the album: Ph4/NT0mA, Buried in Code, Gods in Decay and Seeking Vengeance.

Worst moments of the album: Give It Up or Give It All.

Released in 2024 Napalm Records

Track listing
1. Human Era 5:40
2. Ph4/NT0mA 6:30
3. Buried in Code 3:39
4. The Collective 5:53
5. Green & Glass 5:30
6. Gods in Decay 5:02
7. Give It Up or Give It All 7:35
8. Ghosts in the Mist 5:46
9. Seeking Vengeance 5:22
10. Blood Empress 5:10

Band members
Brittney Slayes – vocals
Grant Truesdell – guitars, additional vocals
Andrew Kingsley – guitars, harsh growls, additional vocals, synths
Nick Miller – bass
Scott Buchanan – drums

Album Review – Vesperian Sorrow / Awaken the Greylight (2024)

Posted on by
Reply

Embark on a beautiful Symphonic Dark Metal experience made in Texas, exploring realms of the cosmos, sorrow, sadness, and darkness.

Considered the premiere Symphonic Dark Metal band in North America, Austin, Texas-based Symphonic Black Metal horde Vesperian Sorrow evokes the darkest depths of searing human tragedy juxtaposed with soaring heights of orchestrated, symphonic melody in their fifth studio album, titled Awaken the Greylight, the follow-up to their 2012 album Stormwinds of Ages. Displaying a sinister artwork by Caelan Stokkermans, the venomous Awaken the Greylight is a haunting and immersive sonic experience by Orlando Logan Olivero on vocals, Will Rohirrim on the guitars, Gabe Reyes on bass, and Christopher Nunez on drums and keyboards, not to mention the band as usual takes a distinctive approach in their lyrical content, exploring realms of the cosmos, sorrow, sadness, and darkness throughout the entire album.

The opener As The Pillars Were Raised is utterly symphonic, epic and majestic, starting the album on a high and Stygian note, with Orlando roaring like a demonic entity for our absolute delight and with Will stealing the spotlight with his wicked guitar solo; whereas Antediluvian – Proceeding The Unshaping is another sulfurous blast of Symphonic Black Metal by the quartet, with Christopher crushing his drums while Orlando vociferates in the best Dani Filth style, resulting in a lecture in obscurity and heaviness. Then we have An Epistle To The Prime Vivified, presenting a beautiful name for a five-minute feast of melodic and ethereal sounds, with Will and Gabe filling all spaces in the air with their respective riffs and bass, followed by Traverse The Vorthonian Passage, blending the epicness of Symphonic Metal with the ferocity of pure Black Metal, and the result is a phantasmagorical tune where Orlando’s vocals alternate between deep, enraged gnarls and soaring clean vocals. And after such imposing tune, A Dire Flight for the Black Fragment keeps the epicness flowing strong through the album, with Will once again embellishing the airwaves with his classy riffs and solos.

Christopher sounds fantastic with both his drums and keys in Seek the Last Priestess of Tyyk, generating a striking atmosphere perfect for the deep roaring by Orlando in one of the strongest and most detailed songs of the album; followed by They Beheld the Chainbreaker’s Crowning Defiance, another lesson in Symphonic Black Metal that carries a gorgeous name, showcasing razor-edged riffs and intricate yet hammering drums, and I would definitely love to see this song performed by the band with a supporting orchestra. There’s still a lot more from those Texan metallers, starting with Who Dwells Whithin The Blight Moon, blending the music by Dimmu Borgir with Melodic Death Metal elements found in the music by Arch Enemy, and the final result is simply breathtaking, whereas The Excillion Ontogenesis is a more direct and visceral creation by the quartet, with the keys by Christopher bringing a welcome touch of finesse to it. And lastly, the quartet will explode our senses one final time with Awaken the Greylight, offering more of their fusion of sharp riffs, low-tuned bass, and stylish keys while Orlando keeps growling like there’s no tomorrow.

Those Texan creatures of the night are waiting for you on Facebook and Instagram with news, tour dates and so on, and you can also stream all of their sinister creations on Spotify or any other streaming service. However, in order to show them your true support, you should grab a copy of the excellent Awaken the Greylight from their BandCamp page or from Apple Music, adding even more darkness to your already Stygian collection. Awaken the Greylight is as aforementioned an amazing sonic experience brought into being by Vesperian Sorrow, elevating the name of the band to new heights and, consequently, inspiring them to keep embellishing the airwaves with more of their stylish music in the coming years.

Best moments of the album: Antediluvian – Proceeding The Unshaping, Seek the Last Priestess of Tyyk and Who Dwells Whithin The Blight Moon.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Black Lion Records

Track listing
1. As The Pillars Were Raised 6:26
2. Antediluvian – Proceeding The Unshaping 5:52
3. An Epistle To The Prime Vivified 5:06
4. Traverse The Vorthonian Passage 5:14
5. A Dire Flight for the Black Fragment 5:51
6. Seek the Last Priestess of Tyyk 6:00
7. They Beheld the Chainbreaker’s Crowning Defiance 6:57
8. Who Dwells Whithin The Blight Moon 4:30
9. The Excillion Ontogenesis 4:15
10. Awaken the Greylight 4:48

Band members
Orlando Logan Olivero – vocals
Will Rohirrim – guitars
Gabe Reyes – bass
Christopher Nunez – drums, keyboards

Concert Review – Raven & Artillery (Hard Luck Bar, Toronto, ON, 04/20/2024)

Posted on by
Reply

All hell broke loose at the Hard Luck Bar in Toronto thanks to a massive night of pure metal music with seven insane bands, spearheaded by the iconic Artillery and Raven.

OPENING ACTS: Potential Threat, Vapor, Wicked, Lutharo and Vicious Rumors

As mentioned in the two previous concert reviews here, I wasn’t able to attend the absolute metal party at the Hard Luck Bar on Saturday with the bands POTENTIAL THREAT, VAPOR, WICKED, LUTHARO, VICIOUS RUMORS, ARTILLERY and RAVEN (yes, all those amazing bands played on the same night at the same venue) on a co-headlining extravaganza during Raven’s All Hell’s Breaking Loose Across North America Tour 2024 and Artillery’s 40th Anniversary North American Tour 2024, a mega event once again organized by Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment. However, although I couldn’t be there due to my trip to New York and Newark to see the almighty Judas Priest, my buddy Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi was there on a double duty, taking care of all photos and also of the review, sending me a quick summary of all the metal madness going on at one of the most famous pubs in Toronto.

The first band to hit the stage, precisely at 6pm, was San Francisco, California’s own Thrash Metal veterans POTENTIAL THREAT, who despite being formed back in 1986 only have three official albums released, the latest one being Threat to Society, from 2019. Formed of vocalist and guitarist Mike Noble, guitarist Daniel Sheridan, bassist Damien Sisson, and drummer Kenny Noble, the band was on fire during their entire concert, leaving Keith eager for more of their music. I don’t think they’re on Spotify, though, but you can find some of their albums on BandCamp and probably on other streaming services, so if you love some mosh pits, just go for it as you’re in for a real treat (or maybe I should say a real “threat”).

Band members
Mike Noble – vocals, guitars
Daniel Sheridan – guitars, backing vocals
Damien Sisson – bass, backing vocals
Kenny Noble – drums, backing vocals

After a short break it was then time for Geyserville, California’s Thrash/Groove Metal band VAPOR to kick some ass on the small but incendiary stage of the pub, getting the crowd going inside the mosh pits and, of course, driving the temperature up considerably at the Hard Luck Bar. It was another excellent round of thrashing songs for the fans at the pub, and you can get to know more about Vapor and their music and go check their wicked creations on BandCamp and on Spotify in case you’re curious to know how those great musicians sound when they get together in the name of our good old Thrash Metal.

Band members
Nate Klug – vocals, guitars
Tom Barrett – lead guitars
Nick Altenburg bass, backing vocals
Edgar Canaan – drums

The third band of such an extensive night of rock and metal was American Glam Metal/Rock N’ Roll squad WICKED, whose last release was the 2022 album Sunburn (available on Spotify, as well as their previous albums), and according to Keith they brought a more Guns N’  Roses-inspired vibe to the venue, with their long blond hair waving around nonstop. I would say a weird choice after two devastating Thrash Metal bands, but the fans enjoyed their songs a lot and the energy at the venue kept flowing in an amazing way, so kudos for the organizers for adding them to the bill. Hence, if you want to know more about this electrifying Rochester, New York-based band, you can find all information you can imagine about them by clicking HERE.

Band members
Danny – vocals, guitar
Scotty V – guitars, backing vocals
Chad Michael – bass, backing vocals
Gunnar – drums, backing vocals

Perhaps the band I regret missing the most from Saturday’s party is Hamilton, Ontario, Canada’s own Melodic Death Metal beast LUTHARO, as they’re by far one of the driving forces of the current Canadian scene. Having just released the breathtaking album Chasing Euphoria, the band led by the stunning Krista Shipperbottom delivered a breathtaking show to an even bigger crowd, which was huge by then, inspiring everyone to slam into mosh pit after mosh pit. Go check more of the amazing music by this Canadian institution for the “Hammer” on Spotify, or click HERE for all things Lutharo. On a side note, Keith mentioned Krista should be one of our metal ladies of the month, and as I love Lutharo I think that will happen still in 2024, so stay tuned for an overdose of Krista sooner than you can scream “born to ride”!

Setlist
Gates of Enchantment
Reaper’s Call
Ruthless Bloodline
Wings of Agony
Born to Ride
Lost in a Soul

Band members
Krista Shipperbottom – vocals
Victor Bucur – guitars, backing vocals
Jeff Wilson – guitars
Chris Pacey – bass
Cory Hofing – drums

The very last of the opening acts of such an amazing night of heavy music in Toronto was Santa Rosa, California-based Heavy/Power Metal masters VICIOUS RUMORS, who are celebrating their 45th anniversary by performing their critically acclaimed first album, Soldiers Of The Night, in its entirety for the first time in North America. Keith mentioned a lot of people were there to see them, elevating their status to maybe what we can call the ” third headliner” of the night, and that by the time they hit the stage the venue was so jam packed that he had a really hard time taking photos of their show as the crowd was not letting the photographers go up front to do their job. Sometimes people get way too excited with heavy music, and I gotta say I love that.

Setlist
Premonition
Ride (Into the Sun)
Medusa
Soldiers of the Night
Murder
March or Die
Abandoned
Replicant
Digital Dictator
Minute to Kill
Don’t Wait for Me

Band members
Brian Allen – vocals
Geoff Thorpe – guitars, additional vocals
Gunnar DüGrey – guitars
Robin Utbult – bass
Larry Howe – drums

ARTILLERY

The first headliner of the night was Danish Thrash Metal institution ARTILLERY, playing 44 shows in 26 states during their 40th Anniversary North American Tour, and according to Keith they kicked some ass Saturday night in Toronto. No idea why, but Keith said that Edgar Canaan of Vapor played drums for Artillery on Saturday in Toronto as their regular drummer Frederik Kjelstrup Hansen wasn’t there, but also that such minor detail didn’t take any energy from their demolishing performance. Quite the contrary, they killed it, and in my opinion Artillery are one of those bands that are mandatory to see live at least once in your lifetime if you consider yourself a true metalhead.

Setlist
The Devils Symphony
The Almighty
Turn up the Rage
By Inheritance
The Face of Fear
Bombfood
Legions
10.000 Devils
Khomaniac
Deeds of Darkness
Terror Squad

Band members
Martin Steene – vocals
Michael Stützer – lead guitars
René Loua – guitars
Peter Thorslund – bass
Edgar Canaan – drums

RAVEN

And last but not least, the jam packed Hard Luck Bar was destroyed by ruthless Heavy Metal veterans RAVEN, during their All Hell’s Breaking Loose Across North America Tour 2024, obviously promoting their 2023 opus All Hell’s Breaking Loose. As soon as they hit the stage, it was an avalanche of Heavy Fuckin’ Metal from Great Britain right in the faces of everyone who was in the front row, with John Gallagher, Mark Gallagher and Mike Heller bringing the best heavy tunes you can think of for the total delight of the massive crowd that took over the Hard Luck Bar. Don’t forget to keep an eye on all things Raven by clicking HERE, in special their amazing live concerts, because once they take the stages of your city you know that all hell will break loose.

Setlist
Destroy All Monsters
Hell Patrol
The Power
Surf the Tsunami
Turn of the Screw
All for One
Rock Until You Drop
Guitar Solo
Faster Than the Speed of Light
Inquisitor
Bass Solo
All Hell’s Breaking Loose
On and On
Break the Chain
Rock Bottom (UFO cover)
Supernaut (Black Sabbath cover)
Symptom of the Universe (Black Sabbath cover)
Victim of Changes (Judas Priest cover)
Chain Saw

Band members
John Gallagher – lead vocals, bass, 12-string bass
Mark Gallagher – guitars, backing vocals
Mike Heller – drums

This slideshow requires JavaScript.